Lifting truck



July `14 193i. STUEBENG, .JR 1,814,977

LIFTING TRUCK Filed May 5, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fleae a.

FIG. 2.

July 14, 1931. w. STUEBING, JR

LIFTING TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1924 Z Z 0 3 Z@ w #wi www, l. l1. .ZI mv. ,x5 9 An: D 9 l/QN Z Z 4 FIG.4.

FIG.5

July' 14, 1931. w. STUEBING, JR 1,814,977

LIFTING TRUCK I FiledY May 5, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 14, 1931 r orties WILLIAM STUEBING, JR.,

TO THE YALE & TOWNE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF

A CORPORATION OF CONNECTEGUT OF CNCNNATL OHIO, ASSIGNGRQBY MESNE ASSIGNIYIENTS,

STAMFORD, CNNECTCUT,

i LXFTING' TRUCK Application filed May 5, 1924. Serial No; 710,983.

The present invention relates to improvements in lifting trucks. One object thereof has been to provide a truck more particularly of the side lift type embodying features of construction which contribute to its adaptability for commercial design and safety in operation. My improvements are particularly applicable to trucks of the single lift type as distinguished from multiple lift trucks. In other words, the fact'that the single lift truck is designed for handling relatively light loads makes it necessary that such a truck be of relatively simple yet durable construction, if it is to be manufactured and sold within the price limit imposed by economic considerations. A further object rof my invention has been to incorporate in a single side lift truck, sui-table mechanism for avoiding or preventing what is known in the art as the flying handle. For this purpose, my improved construction includes devices whereby the handle is automatically disengaged from the loadby a slight reverse movement after the load has been elevated to its maximum position. Afurther object of my invention has been to provide rmeans whereby the weight of the handle or. tongue may be counterbalanced effectively without, however, increasing theV hazards incident to the whipping or the flying handle. Other advantageous features and beneficial results in operation will be apparent from the following description of a preferred form of my improved lifting truck takenL in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating the same andin which:

Figure 1 is a plan view;

Figure a sideelevation;

Figure 3, a front elevation; y

Figure Ll, a fragmentary view partly in central longitudinal section illustrating the relative positions of various parts o f the liftingmechanism priorto a typical lifting operation;

Figure 5, a similar view illustrating the relative positions of parts associated with the lifting operation, at the end of a lifting operation;

Figure 67 a viewy similar to those presentee in Figures l and 5 and illustrating the relative positions of parts of the lifting mechanism while the elevating frame is in elevated position and after the handle has been operatively disengaged from other portions of the lifting mechanism; i

Figure 7, a fragmentary view partly in transverse section on the line 7-7 of Figure l and with the steering handle rotated to a position at an angle of substantially 90 degrees from its position as shown in Figure 4; n

Figure 8, a fragmentary view similaryto Figure 4 except that portions of the lifting mechanism are omitted in order to'disclose more clearly certain parts adapted vmore particularly to balance the handle or tongue; and Y Figure 9, a fragmentary view similar to Figure Sreicept that a portion of the handle balancing mechanism is omitted and a modif, ned form oi interconnection between the handle and other parts of the. lifting mechanism is shown in place of that disclosed in Figures l to 8 inclusive. n A

frs indicated in Figures 1 and 2, my improvements are adapted to be applied'to lift trucks, one form of which includes a main frame having side pieces l with spaced transverse members, including a head 2 at the forward end of said side pieces and a transverse channel 6 at the rear end. Rear wheels 7 are mounted on'an aXle 5 supported between said side pieces 1 and the head 2 is secured at the forward end of the side pieces 1 at 3 and 4. f c

An elevating or elevatable frame is mounted for combined vertical and longitudinal movement in relation to the. main frame and comprises side piecesy l2 held in spaced relation by a transverse member 14 adjacent to therear end of the elevating frame and by a saddle l5 arranged adjacent tothe forward end thereof. Said saddle carries a bracket to which is attached one end of anhydraulic check mechanism of a. type well known in the art7 the other end being secured to a bracket Gl mounted upon a transverse member 58 carriedr between the side pieces 1 of the main frame. Theelevating frame is supported in raised position on the main frame by means of rearwardly positioned links and forwardly positioned links 16, one end of the latter being pivotally secured at 4 and t-he opposite end at 17. The. links 10 are pivotally secured to the main frame at the ends of shaft 5. A shaft 13 extends through the free ends of links 10, the ends of said shaft 13 being journaled in the side pieces 12 of the elevating frame, as indicated more clearly in Figure 2.

To lock the elevating frame in raised position, the head 2, as shown in Figure 1, carries a stop member 55 with its upper end arranged to present a detent positioned in the path of movement of a. latch 57 pivotally mounted on a shaft 46 journaled in a pair of brackets 44 and 45 extending forwardly from the saddle 15. In operation, when the elevating frame is moved from its lowermost position, as shown in Figure 4, for eXample, to its uppermost position, as indicated in Figure 5, the latch 57 engages the upper end si." ad

c the stud end 30 of clevis 29.

of stop member 55 to lock the elevating frame in raised position. It may be manually or otherwise disengaged therefrom by moving a. treadle 56 rearwardly, said treadle preferably being formed as an integral part of latch 57. The forward end of the main frame is supported on steering wheels 8 mounted in a forked steering` swivel 19, the upper portion of which forms a hollow steering post provided with an annular periph# eral groove adapted to cooperate with the inner end of a detent 21 to retain the post in operative position in bearing 18 forming part of the head 2. The lower ends of the swivel 19 provide bea-rings 22 and 23 respectively, Figure 3, for the ends of the steering wheel axles 24. Forward extensions 27 of swivel 19 provide bearings for the ends of a shaft 26 upon which the tongue or handle 25 is pivotally mounted, said handle having an extension 28 which provides a bearing for A strut or thrust member 32 has its lower end supported on said clevis by means of a pin 31 which forms a pivotal connection between saidstrut and said clevis 29, the parts 28, 29, and 31 hereinabove described forming in effect a universal joint between the lower end of tongue 25 and strut 32.

As indicated more clearly in Figure 4, the steering post or upper portion of the swivel 19 has a central longitudinal opening within which the strut 32 is movable during operation of the lifting mechanism and may be actuated by the tongue 25 from any operative steering position thereof.

As shown more clearly in Figure 8, taken in connection with Figure 1, I have provided means operating in connection with portionsV of the lifting inea-ns, for balancing or counterbalancing the tongue 25. The lifting elements or mechanisms include spaced brack- ,the strut 32. Thus,

ets or arms 33 which extend forwardly and upwardly from the head 2 providing bearings for a shaft 34 upon which is pivotally mounted a. lifting lever 35 provided with a downwardly disposed socket 53 positioned and shaped to receive a ball or upper end 54 of when the handle 25 is moved up or down from any operative position in angular relation to the longitudinal axis of the truck, a corresponding oscillatory movement is imparted to the strut 32 and thence to the free end of the lever 35.

A transverse shaft 38 is mounted in lever 35 and forms a pivotal connection between said lever and spaced links 49 connected at their rear ends by a cross pin to which is secured the forward end of a spring 52 having its rear end anchored to the main frame at 5l. With the arrangement of parts just described, spring 52 tends to press the lever 35 into engagement with the upper end of strut 32, which by reason of the pivotal mounting of the handle 25 and the universal joint connection hereinabove described, normally tends to move upwardly against said yielding downward pressure of the lever 35 and spring 52. By properly calibrating spring 52, it canbe made to substantially counterbalance the vweight of the handle or tongue 25.

As indicated more clearly in Figures 4, 5 and 6, I also provide means whereby a single downward thrust of the lifting tongue in any operative angular position will raise the elevating frame to its elevated position. For this purpose, I provide a toggle element including spaced lifting links 36 pivotally mounted on shaft 34 above the swivel 19 and spaced lifting links 47 pivotally mounted on shaft 46 supported in the brackets 44 and 45, Figure 1. As shown more clearly in Figure 6, the forward end of each link 47 is pivotally secured to the rear end of a link 36 at 43. A cross bar 41 connects the rear ends of links 36 and, when in the position indicated in Figure 4, is adapted to be engaged by a portion of a lifting pawl 39 which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 38, said pawl being preferably provided with a slightly grooved step or shoulder 40 adapted to bear against an under portion of the cross bar 41 during lifting movement.

Thus, in operation, to raise the elevating frame, the lever 35 is brought into effective relation to the toggle by deliecting the pawl 39 to the position shown in Figure 4, this operation being conveniently accomplished by manual or other actuation of the pawl through its free end or pedal portion 48 if desired. Thereupon, a single downward thrust of the tongue 25-in. anyl operative steering position moves the elevating parts to the relative positions shown in Figure 5 with latch 57 engaging the upper edge of stop so that the elevating frame is autonormal or lowered position,

11 atively connected to said mat-ic'ally locked or latched in its raised position. To guard against the flying handle and to facilitate moving Vthe truck with a load in position, the handle is now disengaged from operative relation to the load or the elevating frame by a slight upward or reverse movement of said handle suflicient to release the shoulder 40 from engagement with the cross bar 4l, thus permitting the pawl 39 to drop by gravity to the dotted line position shown in Figure 5. Continued upward movement of the tongue 25 then brings the tongue balancing parts into the relationship shown in Figure 6 while the tongue actuated portions of the lifting elements or devices anchoring the toggle remain out of the path of movement of any other element or portion thereof which might be moved as by accidental unlatching of the latch 57 from the stop 55. By kicking or otherwise moving back the free end of pedal 56, the latch 57 is disengaged from stop 55 and permits the elevating frame to return from raised position, shown in Figure 6, to

shown in Figure 4.

What I claim as new and my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a lifting truck, a wheel-supported carriage, an elevatable platform supported by the carriage, a pivoted steering tongue for the carriage movable about a vertical axis, platform-lifting means connecting the tongue and platform including a strut opertongue, al lever connected to the carriage and bearing on said strut, arms pivotally connected to the carriage and carrying a cross-bar, a pawl mounted on the lever and engageable with the cross-bar, and links connecting said arms to said platform, said platform-lifting means being capable of completely elevating the platform from lowest to highest position with one motion of the tongue in one direction, said tongue and lifting meansbeing connected yto permit lifting operation by the tongue regardless of its steering position, and means for so altering the relation of the parts that upon slight reverse movement of said tongue after the platform has been completely elevated, operative disengagement is effected whereby said elevatable platform may descend without movement of said tongue.

2. In a lifting truck, carriage having a hollow steering post, an elevatable platform supported by the carriage, a steering tongue pivotally connected to said post, and platform lifting means connecting the tongue and platform and including an element operating in the hollow post,

said means being capable of completely elevatmg position when the tongue is swung in one direction only, said tongue and lifting means a wheel supportedr the platform from lowest to highestr being connected to permit lifting operation by the tongue regardless of the steering position of the latter, said lifting means including manually operated means for operatively connecting the lifting meansand steering tongue, said means automatically becoming disengaged from the lifting means when the tongue is raised after the platform has been elevated whereby said elevatable platform may descend without moving said tongue.

3. A lifting truck as claimed in claim 2 in which the element operating in said post is a strut operatively connected to the tongue.

4. A lifting` truck including a wheel supported carriage having a hollow steering post, an elevatable platform supported by said carriage, a tongue for steering the truck, a lever pivotally connected to the carriage, a strut extending into said post, the tongue being pivoted to said strut, universal joints connecting the strut to said lever and tongue, and lifting means connecting the lever and latform.

5. A lifting truck as claimed in claim 4 in which the carriage has a bearing sleeve for the post, said post being provided with an annular groove, and a fastening member extending through the sleeve into the groove of the post. Y

6. A lifting truck as claimed in claim 4in which the means connecting the lever and platform includes arms and links, a crossbar carried by the arms, and a pawl pivotally connected to the lever and engageable with said cross-bar.

7 In a lifting truck, a wheel-supported carriage, an elevatable platform supported by the carriage, a pivoted steering tongue for the carriage movable about a vertical axis, platform liftingr means tongueV and platform and capable of completelyielevating the platform from its lowest toits highest position with one motion of the tongue in one direction, vsaid means including a cross-bar operatively connected to the platform, a lever operatively connected to the tongue, and a pawl pivotally connected to the lever and engageable with said crossbar, said pawl being arranged tof automatically disengage said cross-bar after the platform has been lifted to its highest position and when the steering tongue is moved in the reverse direction.

8. A lifting truck including a carriage, wheel-supporting at its rear end and provided at its front end with a sleeve,

ing a depending fork, steering wheels connected to said fork, a steering handle pivotally connected to the fork for movement f" t about a horizontal axis and having an eX- tension, an elevatable platform supported.

by the carriage, a member swiveled to the extension of the steering tongue, a strut pivotally connected to said member and eXtendi connecting the a hollow steer-4` ing post extending into said sleeve and having. into` said post, a lever,A arranged on, said sleeve, a universal joint connecting the. lever and strut, and lifting means connecting the lever and platform.

9. A lifting truck as claimed in claim 8: in which the means connecting the lever and platform includes a cross-bar, and a pawl` pivotally connected t0 the lever and eiigaging said cross-bar.

10. A lifting truck as claimed in4 claim 8 in which the means connecting the lever and plat-form includes arms pivotally connected to said sleeve, a cross-bar carried by said.

arms, and a pawl pivotally connected to said lever and engageable with said cross-bar.

11. A lifting truck as claimed in claim 8 in which the lifting means connecting the lever and platform includes arms pivotally connected to said sleeve, a cross-bar carriedv by the arms, a pawl pivotally connected to the lever and engageable with said crossbar, and links pivotally connecting said arms to said platform.

12. In a lifting truck, a wlieel-supported carriage, an elevatable platform supported by the carriage, automatically operating means for locking the platform in raised position, a pivoted steering tongue for the'carriage, and platform-lifting means connect- `ingthe tongue and platform and capable of completely elevating the platform from its lowestto its highest position with one motion of the tongue in one direction, saidlast mentioned means including a cooperating c ross bar and pawl, and said pawl being automatically disconnectible from the cross-bar when the locking means has operatedand the tongue is ymoved in a. direction reverserto that of its lifting direc-tion.

13. In a lifting truck, elevatable frame mounted thereonV for up and'down movement in relation thereto, a hollow steering post. mounted on the main frame, means for lifting said elevatable frame including a strut operative in saidv hollow steering post, a steering handle pivotally connected to lthe lower end of said strut and manually operable means to effect lifting connection between said elevatableframe and the handle and to maintain saidvconnection during frame elevating movement of the handle, adapted l the handle and the elevating` frameupon reversemovement of said handle after said elevating frame has reached its elevated 'position..v

- 14.` In a lifting truck, a main. frame, an eleva-table frame supported thereon, means for locking the elevatable frame in .raised position, a( steering handle pivotally connectedto the main frame, lifting means operatively interposed between said handle and said elevatableframe and adapted to permit said frame to be raised in any operative steera main frame, an u said manually operable means 'being to effect automatic disconnection of4 ing position ofv saidr handle, said lifting means including manually operable means for connecting said elevatable frame with said handle and adapted. to maintain connection until automatically disengaged by a slight reverse movement of the handle after the 'elevatable frame is raised and locked in raised position.

15. In a lifting truck, a main frame, an elevatable frame supported thereon, means for locking the elevatable frame in raised position, a steering handlepivotally connected to the main frame, liftingv mea-ns whereby vertical movement of said handle in one direction raises the elevatable frame in any operative steering position of said handle, said lifting means including manually operablemeaiis for operatively connecting said elevatable frame with said handle and adapted-to maintainvconnection between said handle and saidlifting means until automatically disengaged by slight reverse movement of the handle when the elevatable frame is in raised position. v

16. A lifting truck including a wheel supported carriage having a hollow steering post, anelevatable framesupported by said carriage, a steering tonguehaving a portion extending beneath said steeringpost, means for elevatingthe frame including a member freely movablethrougli the hollow steering post, and'means for releasably connecting said frameand said freely movable member during framejlifting movement of the tongue, said means being adaptedto disconnect said frame and said Vfreely movable member upon reverse movement of said tongue.

17. In a lifting truck, a. wheel-supported carriage, an elevatab'le platform supported by the carriage, a pivoted steering tongue for thecarriage movable about a vertical axis, platform-lifting means connecting the tongue and platform and capable of completely elevating the platform from lowest to highest. position with one motion of the tongue in one direction, said tongue and lifting means Abeing connected -to permit liftingv opera-tion by the tongue regardless of its steering position, disconnecting means operative upon reverse movement of the tongue to disconnectthe.tongue from the platform, and spring means for counter-balancing the weightof the tongue to assist in raising it to upright position.

18. lifting. truck comprising a main frame, an upwardly movable lifting frame, a rotatable steering member, a, thrust member associated with said steering member, means for actuating said thrust member, means ccniiected with the main and lifting frames at opposite sides of the axis of the steering member and arranged to be deflected by said thrust member to raise thelifting frame, and means for automatically interrupting the operative relationship between said lifting frame and said means for actuating said thrust member.

19. A lifting truck comprising a main frame, an upwardly movable lifting frame, a rotatable steering member having a central opening, an upwardly movable member operating in said opening, means for moving said member upward, means connected with the main and lifting frames at opposite sides of said opening and arranged to be deflected by upward movement of said member to raise the lifting frame, and means for automatically interrupting the operative relationship between said lifting frame and said means for actuating said thrust member.

20. A lifting truck, comprising main and lifting frames, a steering member rotatably associated with said main frame, a lever connected with said steering member, reciprocating means movable longitudinally in said steering member coaxially therewith and adapted to be actuated by said lever, means connected with said main and lifting frames and extending over and actuated by said reciprocating means for raising said lifting frame, and means automatically operative upon a movement of said lever to interrupt the lifting relationship of the parts.

2l. A lifting truck comprising a main frame, an upwardly movable lifting frame, a rotatable steering member having a central opening, an upwardly movable member operating in said opening, means connected with the main and lifting frames at opposite sides of said opening and arranged to be deflected by upward movement of said member to raise the lifting frame, a steering lever associated with said steering member and adapted to operate from any steering posit-ion to move said member upward, and means operative upon movement of said steering lever automatically to free it from the train of lifting mechanism.

22. A lifting truck, comprising main and lifting frames, supporting and steering wheels, a steering member rotatably associated with said main frame, a lever connected with said steering member, a toggle connected with said main and lifting frames, a plunger actuated by said lever in any steering position thereof for operating said toggle to raise said lifting frame, and means to interrupt the operative relationship between said toggle and said lever upon upward movement thereof.

23. A lifting truck, comprising main and lifting frames, supporting and steering wheels, a steering member rotatably associated with said main frame, a lever connected with said steering member, lifting elements including a toggle connected with said main and lifting frames and a plunger actuated by said lever in any steering position thereof for operating said toggle to raise said lifting frame, said lever being arranged te swing laterally independently of said toggle mechanism, and means automatically operative upon upward movement of said lever to move one of said elements out of operative range of another.

24. A lifting truck comprising a main frame, an upwardly movable lifting frame, a rotatable steering member, lifting elements including reciprocating means associated with said steering member and a toggle connected with the main and lifting frames and extending over said steering member to be actuated by said reciprocating means to raise the lifting frame, means for actuating said reciprocating means, and means automatically operative upon upward movement of said lever to move one of said elements out of operative range of another.

25. A lifting truck comprising a main frame, an upwardly movable lifting frame, a rotatable steering member, lifting elements including reciprocating means asso'- ciated with said steering member and a toggle connected with the main and lifting frames and extending over said reciprocating means to be actuated thereby to raise the lifting frame, a steering lever arranged to actuate said reciprocating means regardless of its steering position, and means automatically operative upon upward movement of said lever to move one of said elements out of operative range of another.

26. A lifting truck comprising a main frame, an upwardly movable lifting frame, a steering member rotatably associated with said main frame and having a vertically disposed opening therein, lifting elements including a thrust member movable in said opening and means connected with the main and lifting frames at opposite sides of said thrust member and adapted to be deflected thereby to raise the lifting frame, a steering lever operable from any steering position to actuate said thrust member, and means automatically operative upon upward movement of said lever to move one of said elements out of operative range of another.

27. A lifting truck comprising a main frame, an upwardly movable lifting frame, a rotatable steering member, lifting elements including reciprocating means carried by said steering member and toggle mechanism connected with said main and lifting frames and adapted to be engaged and deflected by said reciprocating means to raise the lifting frame, means operable from any lsteering position for actuating said reciproeating means, and ative upon upward movement of said lever to move one of said elements out of operative range of another.

v In testimony whereof, I affix my signature at Cincinnati, Ohio, this 30th day of April,

WILLIAM S'FUEBIblCi9 JR.

means automatically oper- Y 

